On-Demand

Chip Kids: Space Race

What do slices of pizza and microchips have in common? In this episode, The Chip Kids race to place as many square chips as they can on a circular wafer and learn about space efficiency.

Vocabulary for Students to Define: Molten Silicon, Seed Crystal, Ingot Formation, Boule, Insulator, Resistors, Diffusion, Etching, Mask, Photolithography, Semiconductor

Challenge Question: Why are boules round instead of square?

Lesson & Experiment Activities:

Space Race Video Scavenger Hunt

Key to Video Scavenger Hunt

Student Handouts

TWLH Chart-Space Race

Advanced 10 part lesson plans for Let the Chips Fall Where They May from NanoHUB.org

Did you know you can power a lightbulb with just a battery and aluminum foil? Mrs. Pope illuminates the bright ideas behind electrical current. This hands-on activity will help students visualize how energy moves through a circuit, enhancing their understanding of electrical conductivity and the importance of creating a closed loop for effective energy transfer.

Vocabulary for Students to Define: Microchip, Semiconductor, Current, Voltage, Flowing Water Analogy

Teacher Guide for Lesson & Experiment

Light It Up! Lesson Guide

Student Handouts

TWLH Chart-Light It Up!

Fillable Light It Up! Lab Report

Printable Light It Up! Lab Report

Chip Kids: Etch This!

In the world of semiconductors, how do we draw the microscopic markings needed for their circuits to work? Mrs. Pope and the Chip Kids perform an experiment with antacids, vinegar, and tape to learn about the process of chemical etching. Learning about etching on antacids helps students to understand the process of etching in the creation of microchips. When microchips are etched, parts of the silicon wafer are removed to form a pattern of tiny circuits to allow the chips to process information and perform tasks.

Vocabulary for Students to Define: Microchip, Microfabrication, Semiconductor, Silicon Wafer, Etching, Masking

Teacher Guide for Lesson & Experiment

Etch This! Lesson Guide

Student Handouts

TWLH Chart-Etch This!

Fillable Etch This! Lab Report

Printable Etch This! Lab Report

Skillsville Videos, Games, and Songs

Play games and watch videos from Skillsville at https://pbskids.org/skillsville

“Skillsville,” an animated series that encourages kids ages 4-8 to “power up” the skills they need for future success in careers and everyday life! In each episode, friends Cora, Dev, and Rae solve real life problems by using the strategies they’ve learned in “Skillsville,” a video game where the players get to manage their own virtual city. By trying out various jobs, the gamers help keep the city running smoothly, and when things go wrong, it’s up to the three friends to find a creative solution. Skillsville engages children as they follow the adventures of Cora, Dev, and Rae and watch them enter the virtual world of Skillsville. There, they transform into avatars and take on jobs to help the city thrive.

In each episode, the friends practice success skills, a set of executive functioning skills that help them learn and solve problems. These skills include think differently, focus, feel, organize, and remember. As they face challenges in their jobs, Cora, Dev, and Rae practice strategies that support these skills, helping them stay on track, adapt to new situations, and work together to find solutions. They also apply these skills outside the game, showing children how to use these strategies in their own lives to overcome challenges with creativity, flexibility, and confidence.

Where to Watch:

WXXI Kids website Live Stream or P BSKIDS .org and the PBS KIDS free Video App. (Download)
PBS KIDS YouTube channel

Skillsville PBS KIDS for Parents Page: Articles & Printables & Games

Skillsville PBS KIDS Games: Sound It Out

Skillsville PBS LearningMedia Collection: Classroom resources include videos, media galleries, activities, background reading and discussion questions.

Skillsville Episode Playlist: Play individual episodes from the series.

Skillsville Live Full Episode Compilation: Watch on PBSKIDS.org or the PBS KIDS YouTube Playlist or the PBS KIDS Video App for Full Episodes and Songs

Skillsville Theme Song

Skillsville Series One-sheet

Women’s History Month with PBS KIDS

March is Women’s History Month! Celebrate and learn about famous women in history with your favorite PBS KIDS shows including Xavier Riddle, Molly of Denali, and others! You will find full episodes and short clips from your favorite PBS KIDS shows

Watch Playlist of Full Episodes:

International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Black History Month: Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: Black Heroes & PBS KIDS specials

Celebrate Black History Month with Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum! Join Xavier, Yadina, and Brad as they travel back in time to meet incredible Black heroes who changed the world. In this special livestream, kids will learn about courage, resilience, and the importance of setting and achieving goals. The episodes focus on influential figures like Jackie Robinson, Maya Angelou, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, Jesse Owens, and Ella Fitzgerald. It’s a fun, educational journey through history that empowers young viewers to understand the legacy of these trailblazers! Featured Episodes: I Am Jackie Robinson I Am Maya Angelou / I Am Frederick Douglass I Am Harriet Tubman I Am Rosa Parks / I Am Thurgood Marshall I Am Jesse Owens / I Am Ella Fitzgerald Tune in for an unforgettable adventure that celebrates history and helps young minds understand the values of resilience, courage, and determination!

Watch Playlist of Full Episodes:

Play games and watch full episodes of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum on https://pbskids.org/xavier

Explore the PBS LearningMedia Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Collection

Learn more at the PBS KIDS for Parents Xavier Riddle & and Secret Museum

Watch PBS KIDS Black History Month Playlist

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with PBS KIDS

Make this Valentine’s Day extra special by spending it with your favorite PBS KIDS characters. Share sweet moments and important lessons about love, kindness, and friendship with Daniel Tiger, Pinkalicious, Molly of Denali, Arthur, Peg+Cat, Nature Cat, Super Why, Word World and more! Watch the Playlist Above.

Watch More PBS KIDS Specials

Watch more PBS KIDS videos

Valentine’s Arts & Crafts

Printable cards and more Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Games

Play Valentines Themed Games

Sesame Street Valentine Playlist

Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa • WXXI-WORLD

This WXXI production explores the seven principles that are the foundation of Kwanzaa by sharing seven real-life stories of impact.

Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa airs Sunday, December 29 at 7 p.m. on WXXI-WORLD.

Honoring the heritage, unity, culture, and rich contributions of African Americans, Kwanzaa is more than just a celebration; it’s a way of life. Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa explores the seven principles that are the foundation of Kwanzaa by sharing seven real-life stories of impact. These stories reveal how each principle plays a role in the Black community, illustrated through cultural elements of dance, storytelling, music, and spoken word.

Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa features interviews with Dr. David A. Anderson/Sankofa, Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition; Ms. Melba Ayco, Artistic Director and Owner, Northwest Tap Connection; Delores Jackson Radney, Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition; Melanie Funchess, Principal & CEO, Ubuntu Village Works LLC; Reenah Golden, Founder and Artistic Director, Avenue Blackbox Theatre; Anthony and Zakiya King, Owners of Cerebral Kingdom Bookstore; Dr. Shaun Nelms, EPO Superintendent, East High School; Shawn Dunwoody, Digital Designer Dunwoodē Designs; Terrie Ajile Axam, Founder Artistic Director, Total Dance/Dancical Productions Inc., and Terry Chaka, Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition.

Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa is a WXXI Public Media production from 2022. The production team includes: Teej Jenkins-Routier, producer/director; Joanne V. Gordon, editor/producer; and Rhonda Austin, associate producer.